Kashmir minister’s guards held for assaulting traffic cop

Srinagar, Sep 11 (IANS) Two personal security guards of a Jammu and Kashmir minister have been arrested for assaulting a traffic policeman who had stopped the escort vehicle of the ministerial cavalcade for jumping a red light here.

The security guards of Public Health Engineering Minister Taj Mohiuddin were arrested late Monday. According to eyewitnesses, the cavalcade ignored the red signal at the TRC crossing in Srinagar city Monday evening as the minister was heading towards his residence in Gupkar Road.

“The cops who beat the traffic police officer have been arrested and booked. I have asked for the strongest possible action under law,” Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abullah said in a message on Twitter.

“A traffic sub-inspector finally managed to stop the rear escort vehicle in the minister’s cavalcade for violation of the traffic signal at the busy road crossing. The guards of the minister jumped out of the vehicle and started beating the traffic cop ruthlessly,” an eyewitness said.

Police has arrested two security guards of the minister for the murderous assault on a traffic cop on duty.

“They have been arrested by Kothi Bagh police station and an FIR for murderous assault has been lodged against them,” police sources told IANS.

The injured traffic policeman, Sub-Inspector Mohan Lal, has been admitted to a local hospital where doctors said he had been badly beaten up and had reported with eye bruises and other injuries.